Circular billiard table with curved and straight bumper sections

ABSTRACT

The invention is a circular billiard or pool table having a number of pockets or openings, for receiving billiard balls, which are equally spaced around a circular bumper. Spaced at a mid position between each pocket on the circular bumper is a flat bumper that projects inwards towards the center of the table to prevent billiard balls from traveling a path continuously along the curved bumper to a pocket and also to provide a limited flat bumper surface for rebounding balls.

United States Patent Meyers et al.

[ 51 Oct. 24,1972

[54] CIRCULAR BILLIARD TABLE WITH CURVED AND STRAIGHT BUMPER SECTIONS[72] Inventors: James D. Meyers, 12132 Sapphire; John H. Mattson, 1262]Morgan Lane, both of Garden Grove, Calif. 92641 [22] Filed: March 27,1969 [21] Appl. No.: 811,075

[52] US. Cl ..273'/9, 273/3 A [51] Int. Cl. ..A63d 15/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..273/2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,899 2/1927 Bjorkman..273/9 1,725,069 8/1929 Eyles ..273/3 2,219,675 10/ 1 940 Gillespie..273/ 2 Cusano ..273/9 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3,485 2/ 1906Great Britain ..273/3 A Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle AssistantExaminer-Theatrice Brown Att0meyEdward Dugas [57] ABSTRACT The inventionis a circular billiard or pool table having a number of pockets oropenings, for receiving billiard balls, which are equally spaced arounda circular bumper. Spaced at a mid position between each pocket on vthecircular bumper is a flat bumper that projects inwards towards thecenter of the table to prevent billiard balls from traveling a pathcontinuously along the curved bumper to a pocket and also to provide alimited fiat bumper surface for rebounding balls.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures minnow 24 I972 sum 1 0r 2 FIGURE INVENTORSPATENTEnnm 24 ran SHEEI 2 BF 2 PIGURE FIGURE I flaw) I INVENTORSCIRCULAR BILLIARD TABLE WITH CURVED AND STRAIGHT BUMPER SECTIONSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The game of billiards or pool is mostcommonly played on a rectangular flat surface which is surrounded by arectangular bumper and a plurality of ball pockets located in the bumperto receive a correctly moving ball. The rectangular tables, up to now,have received world wide use. Various other shapes have been explored tomake for a more interesting game. A polygonal table was patented in U.S.Pat. No. 2,262,610, entitled Billiard Table by Harry Kellerman in 1941.The table disclosed in that patent was a deviation from the more commonrectangular table. The pockets were positioned at each juncture of thesides of the polygonal. With this configuration no pocket was positionedopposite a flat bumper section.

so it was always necessary to rebound the ball at an angle into a pocketunless there was a direct shot which did not require the use of abumper. The amount of skill necessary to play the game on such a tablewas thereby greatly increased making for a more interesting game.

A completely circular game table is disclosed in US. Pat. I No.2,361,471, entitled Game Apparatus by V.H. Fontaine Jr. which issued in1944. In that patent there is disclosed a circular table which isrotatable so that people may sit while they play the game. When it is anindividuals turn he simply rotates the table around to his position andtakes his shot.

Another patent of interest for background purposes is US. Pat. No.1,669,822, entitled Game Apparatus by T'resham D. Gregg issued in 1928.The game board of that patent is a convertible one. In one position thebumpers form a square table and with a flip of panels the table can bechanged into a circular table having four pockets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a circular, flat, table is encircled with a circular bumper.Pocket means, openings, for receiving balls are positioned around thecircumference of the bumper. A number of flat bumper surfacescorresponding in number to number of pockets are positioned on thecircular bumper between each pocket projecting inward towards the centerof the table. The composite bumper thus formed is comprised of alternatesections of curved and substantially flat surfaces. The inwardprojection of the flat bumper surfaces prevents a player from walkingthe ball along the curved bumper until it drops into a pocket. The flatbumper surface also permits angled rebound shots to be made similar tothose made on the rectangular or square table. The present inventionthereby embodies the best features of the flat cushion table with thebest features of the circular cushion table.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved billiard Pool table.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedbilliard pool table of the circular type.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedbilliard pool table having alternate curved and flat bumper sections.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a table onwhich balls are rebounded in to pockets on the table with the reboundingsurfaces being flat and circular.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a circular pooltable having substantially flat bumper surfaces extending inward fromthe circular bumper sections. This provides a flat surface for angularrebound shot from any place on the table to a pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferredembodiment of the table.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view taken along the section lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is a projection view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a circular pool, orgaming, table 10 is shown having a flat, circular, playing surface 11,which is surrounded by a ring side wall 15. The side wall ,15 and theplaying surface 11, each have a plurality of ball pockets (openings)12,equally displaced around the periphery of surface 1 1.

Affixed to the inner surface of side wall 15 are curved bumper sections14. Positioned at approximately the mid-position between each ballpocket 12, is a bumper 18 having a substantially straight horizontalsurface 20, as compared to the surface of the curved bumper sections 14.The straight horizontal bumper surfaces 20 project inwards towards thecenter of the table 10. The length of bumper 18 is shorter than anysection of curved bumper, 14. In the embodiment shown, 6 straightbumpers are provided. Any number of straight and curved bumpers may beused to make the game more interesting.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3. The straight bumper 18 is showncomprised of a solid wood section 25, covered along its edges with arubber cushion 30. The straight horizontal surface (edge) 20 isconnected to the curved bumpers 14 by means of two straight surfaces 22and 24 which are canted at approximately 45 angles with respect to thestraight horizontal surface 20. If the angle were the playing ballscould possibly be trapped in the formed corner.

The entire surface of the table including the bumper surfaces is coveredwith standard pool table felt, not shown for purposes of clarity toprovide the proper playing surfaces.

To summarize, the invention is directed to a circular pool table havinga plurality of substantially straight horizontal bumper surfacesprojecting inward. The straight bumper surfaces forming a minor portionof the tables total bumper surfaces.

Many changes and modifications may be made in the lengths, widthsdiameters and numbers of straight bumpers which will still be within theteaching of this invention.

We claim:

1. A circular pool table comprising in combination:

a. a flat circular playing surface with a plurality of pockets aroundthe periphery thereof;

b. a circular bumper surrounding said playing surface; and

straight horizontal bumper surfaces are positioned on said circularbumpers between said defined openings to prevent a played ball fromrolling along said circular bumper into a defined opening.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said straight horizontalbumper surfaces have a length less than any circular bumper.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said at least one straighthorizontal bumper surface is connected to said circular bumper bystraight horizontal bumper surfaces which are positioned at an anglewith respect to said straight horizontal bumper surface.

7. The invention according to claim 1 including a plurality of saidstraight horizontal bumper surfaces equally spaced apart on saidcircular bumper.

8. The invention according to claim 3 including a plurality of saidbumper surfaces and wherein said openings and said straight horizontalbumper surfaces are equally spaced apart on said circular bumper andsaid circular playing surface.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said straight horizontalbumper surfaces have a length less than the distance between twoadjacent defined holes.

1. A circular pool table comprising in combination: a. a flat circularplaying surface with a plurality of pockets around the peripherythereof; b. a circular bumper surrounding said playing surface; and c.at least one straight inwardly projecting horizontal bumper surfacelocated on said circular bumper between at least a pair of said pockets.2. The invention according to claim 1 including a plurality of saidbumper surfaces on said circular bumper.
 3. The invention according toclaim 1 wherein said pockets comprise openings defined in said circularplaying surface and said bumper to receive playing balls.
 4. Theinvention according to claim 2 wherein said straight horizontal bumpersurfaces are positioned on said circular bumpers between said definedopenings to prevent a played ball from rolling along said circularbumper into a defined opening.
 5. The invention according to claim 1wherein said straight horizontal bumper surfaces have a leNgth less thanany circular bumper.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein saidat least one straight horizontal bumper surface is connected to saidcircular bumper by straight horizontal bumper surfaces which arepositioned at an angle with respect to said straight horizontal bumpersurface.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 including a plurality ofsaid straight horizontal bumper surfaces equally spaced apart on saidcircular bumper.
 8. The invention according to claim 3 including aplurality of said bumper surfaces and wherein said openings and saidstraight horizontal bumper surfaces are equally spaced apart on saidcircular bumper and said circular playing surface.
 9. The inventionaccording to claim 8 wherein said straight horizontal bumper surfaceshave a length less than the distance between two adjacent defined holes.